Attic Kneewall Ideas While You Are Remodeling!

The area of space just below the roof on Cape Cod style houses, as well as bungalow style homes, is commonly known as the attic kneewall. More specifically, visualize the vertical studs in your attic, and imagine where the roof meets with the shorter attic wall. This space is what creates the area known as the attic kneewall. The following paragraphs will discuss the attic kneewall, as well as provide some tips and ideas regarding how to utilize the space.

Since most kneewall areas involve very little head room, one of the most simple way to make use of this area is to install shelves in it. You can run the shelves down the entire length of your attic kneewall, spacing the shelves according to your own specific storage needs. Many people have found that adding shelves to the kneewall of their attic is the ideal way to store their smaller boxes and other smaller items. The use of shelves in kneewalls also helps to free up space near the taller attic walls, so that it may be used for the storage of bigger boxes and taller items, perhaps even some of your older pieces of furniture.

Another common way homeowners make use of their attic kneewall is to create a storage closet in those areas. By enclosing the attic kneewall with a wall, including a short door for easy entry, you can make it possible to store items in your attic in a space that is closed off from view. Not only does this type of closet help to keep your attic spaced more organized, it can also give your attic more function in case you decide to renovate it into a livable space one day, like a playroom, guest bedroom, or just a quiet place to relax. You can still have a livable space in your attic, while still using your kneewall areas as storage areas.

One thing to look for, before installing shelves or building a storage closet, is insulation in the kneewall area. It is very important that your attic kneewall be insulated. If your attic kneewall was not constructed with some sort of insulation, you will need to install some. By adding insulation before beginning your renovation, you will be helping to maintain a comfortable temperature in your attic. Not only that, adding insulation will also assist in helping to control the temperature of your entire house. Green Building Nari Contractor Atlanta Design & Build can help you through the process!

Some homeowners are totally unaware of the space they could be saving in their attics by dressing up their kneewall. While there may not be a lot of headroom in a attic kneewall, it can adequately function as a storage area or closet.

Installing Roof Leak Barriers - Sealing Off Dormers and Side Walls

Installing Roof Leak Barriers - Sealing Off Dormers and Side Walls

By Joseph Vann Hamby Sr.

On the structural settling, roof decks and side walls can move separately. This settling can tear ice and water shields. Installing water-proof leak protection sealed to only the side wall will eliminate this problem from happening. When sealing dormers and side walls on a roof, install Shingle-Mate or Deck Armor roof underlayment protection. Be sure to cut it flush to the wall seam. Prepare a full 36" width of Weather Watch or Storm Guard Ice and Shield and align the Weather Watch or Storm Guard so that there is at least 5" running up the adjoining wall.

Remove split-back release film and firmly press to seal the Weather Watch or Storm Guard Ice and Water Shield. This seals the membrane to the Shingle-Mate or the Deck Armor roof protection underlayment and to the adjoining wall materials.

For masonry materials, some products may not seal or bond to certain cements and masonry products. If you are installing to a masonry material, install the Shingle-Mate or the Deck Armor roof underlayment 3"-4" short of the wall seam making sure to leave the wood decking exposed. Then, seal the ice and water shield to the deck and run up the masonry without sealing.

Always remember that the Weather Watch or Storm Guard Ice and water shield are required around the dormers of roofs and the side wall of a house for the Weather Stopper orGolden Pledge installations.

Always take care when installing and sealing the Weather Watch or Storm Guard leak barriers. These special underlayments are crucial to the life of your home and the roof itself. The homeowner needs to make sure to hire a qualified roofing contractor that knows how to install the Weather Watch or Storm Guard properly. A qualified roofing contractor knows the proper installment procedures to install the water proof roof deck protection, so the homeowner will be assured that these roof-leak barriers are taking care of his/her needs for leak protection in the form of water proof underlayments.

When dealing with masonry materials, the homeowner needs to make sure the roofing contractor understands they are dealing with a masonry material and not all water-proof underlayments will bond to the masonry on their home. In this case, there may be other materials that can be used to make sure a water proof roofing material will bond and seal to this type of masonry on a home.

A homeowner can rest assured that when using a contractor that knows how to install these types of products, their home will be taken care of.

To find out more about how to install asphalt roofing products, please visit the following links: Roswell Roofing Specialists or Fulton County Roofer. This article was authored and submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby. All editing and summaries are by Joseph Vann Hamby in a collective effort to encourage proper roofing installation practices.

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Composite Roofing and You in Atlanta!

The composite roof is often termed composite because of the different materials used in any type of composite building material. There could be a mixture of various materials as well as the loss of weight for the overall roofing system. I will say that it can be a heavier material than wood too! I Just had to get that in there.

Composite roofs are designed and manufactured to resemble slate or wood. The Slate design is common in composite roofs and people like the price over traditional slate. Generally, the cost is 35 to 40% less than a traditional slate roof. That is a huge benefit for someone who desires that type of exterior finish. The Composite Roof systems are usually warrantied around 50 years to boot.

The composite shake style roof is very beneficial to those who desire the wood look without the wood shake hassles. If you have a wood shake roof, it is very important to keep the roof clean and dry. If you fail to do so, the roof will rot prematurely and you'll need repairs that just do not blend well.

Another issue with shakes or wood shingles, is that if you live in a moist climate you have to keep it clean and dry. You will also need to seal the wood every 3 or 4 seasons.This can be extremely dangerous work because of how slick the materials are during this process. Just imagine trying to walk on a slope with a pure sheet of ice on it. You will see that it would be impossible to do so without falling. To do this part of the job requires safety harnesses and fall protection gear. This is usually very expensive because of all of the equipment that will be required to do the cleaning and sealing safely.

When you purchase a composite shake type of roof you have just eliminated the seasonal hassles of protecting your most valuable asset, your home. Not only will you save the money that you put into the new composite roofing, but you'll actually earn a savings in the long term which will add value to your initial investment. This means that you will get a ROI or Return on Your Investment. So with that being said the benefits to buying a Composite roof definitely does carry its own weight in the roofing market place.

I recommend visiting Tamko's website to learn more about the composite roofs that are manufactured today. This is a great starting place to start by researching the Lamarite series products.In addition this will give you an idea of the message of this Article, and offers you a great foundational place of research. It will be very helpful to you for weighing the Pros and Cons of the Composite Roofing World.

To find out more about Composite Roofing Products please visit the following links: Douglas County Roofing Companies or Douglasville Roofing Contractors.This article was Authored and Submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby.